Meta Quest 2, Meta Quest Pro, and Meta Quest 3: A Comparison of Meta’s VR Headsets

Meta, formerly known as Facebook, is one of the leading companies in the virtual reality industry. It has developed several VR headsets under the Meta Quest brand, each with its own features, capabilities, and price points. In this article, we will compare the Meta Quest 2, Meta Quest Pro, and Meta Quest 3, and see how they differ in terms of display, refresh rate, games, audio, battery life, and more.

Display

The display is one of the most important aspects of a VR headset, as it determines the visual quality and immersion of the VR experience. The Meta Quest 2 has a single LCD panel with a resolution of 1,832 by 1,920 pixels per eye, resulting in a total resolution of 3,664 by 1,920 pixels. The LCD panel offers high pixel density and low screen-door effect (the visible gaps between pixels), but also has lower contrast and color saturation than OLED panels.

The Meta Quest Pro has two LCD panels with local dimming backlight, each with a resolution of 1,920 by 1,800 pixels per eye. This results in a total resolution of 3,840 by 1,800 pixels. The local dimming backlight allows for better contrast and black levels than the Quest 2’s LCD panel, but still not as good as OLED panels. The Quest Pro also has pancake lenses, which are thinner and lighter than conventional lenses, and offer a wider field of view (106 degrees horizontal and 96 degrees vertical).

The Meta Quest 3 is rumored to have an LCD display with a resolution of 2,064 by 2,208 pixels per eye and an increased 120Hz refresh rate. This is both higher resolution and faster than the top-end Quest Pro, which has a resolution of 1,920 by 1,800 pixels per eye and a default refresh rate of 90Hz. The Quest 3 is also expected to have a wider field of view than the Quest Pro, thanks to its pancake lenses.

Refresh Rate

The refresh rate is another important factor that affects the VR experience. It refers to how many times the display updates per second. A higher refresh rate means smoother motion and less motion sickness. The Meta Quest 2 has a default refresh rate of 90Hz, but can support up to 120Hz for some apps and games. However, not all apps and games are optimized for 120Hz yet, and running at higher refresh rates may reduce battery life and performance.

The Meta Quest Pro also has a default refresh rate of 90Hz, but can support up to 120Hz for some apps and games. However, unlike the Quest 2, the Quest Pro has an adaptive refresh rate feature that automatically adjusts the refresh rate based on the content and the user’s head movement. This can improve battery life and performance while maintaining smoothness.

The Meta Quest 3 will have a refresh rate of at least 120Hz by default. This would make it one of the highest refresh rate VR headsets on the market. However, it is not clear whether it will also have an adaptive refresh rate feature like the Quest Pro.

Games

The games library is another crucial aspect of a VR headset, as it determines the variety and quality of the VR content available. The Meta Quest 2 has an impressive game library that includes popular titles such as Beat Saber, Superhot VR, Resident Evil 4 VR, Population: One, The Walking Dead: Saints & Sinners, and more. The Quest 2 can also play PC VR games via the Oculus Link cable or wireless streaming apps such as Virtual Desktop or Air Link. This expands the game library to include Steam VR games such as Half-Life: Alyx, Boneworks, No Man’s Sky, and more.

The Meta Quest Pro can play all the games that are compatible with the Quest 2, as well as some exclusive titles that take advantage of its advanced features such as eye tracking and face tracking. Some examples of these titles are Horizon Workrooms, a social VR app that allows users to collaborate in virtual spaces; Echo Arena, a zero-gravity sports game that uses eye tracking for aiming; Lone Echo II, a sci-fi adventure game that uses face tracking for expressive communication; and more.

The Meta Quest 3 will be able to play all the games that are compatible with the Quest 2 and the Quest Pro, as well as some exclusive titles that will be developed for its next-generation hardware. However, these titles have not been announced yet, and may take some time to be released after the launch of the headset.

Audio

The audio quality and spatialization of a VR headset are also important for creating an immersive VR experience. The Meta Quest 2 has built-in speakers that project sound into the user’s ears, as well as a 3.5mm headphone jack for connecting external headphones. The built-in speakers offer decent sound quality and spatialization, but lack bass and isolation. The headphone jack allows users to use their own headphones for better sound quality and immersion, but also adds more wires and weight to the headset.

The Meta Quest Pro has the same built-in speakers and headphone jack as the Quest 2, but also has a color passthrough feature that allows users to see the real world in full color through the headset’s cameras. This can be useful for interacting with the physical environment or other people while wearing the headset, but also reduces the immersion and audio quality of the VR experience.

The Meta Quest 3 is rumored to have improved audio quality and spatialization than the Quest 2 and the Quest Pro, but the exact details are not known yet. It may also have a color passthrough feature like the Quest Pro, or a different solution for blending VR and AR.

Battery Life

The battery life of a VR headset determines how long users can enjoy VR content without interruption or recharging. The Meta Quest 2 has a battery life of about 2 to 3 hours, depending on the usage and settings. This is not very long, especially for immersive VR games that require longer sessions. Users can extend the battery life by using an external battery pack or the official Elite Battery Strap, which adds an extra battery to the head strap.

The Meta Quest Pro has a similar battery life of about 2 to 3 hours, despite having a more powerful processor and display than the Quest 2. This is because it also has a larger battery capacity of around 4,500 mAh, compared to the Quest 2’s 3,640 mAh. However, this is still not very long for a professional VR headset that is meant for work and productivity. Users can also extend the battery life by using an external battery pack or the official Elite Battery Strap. The Quest Pro also comes with an included dock that can charge the headset and the controllers wirelessly.

The Meta Quest 3 is expected to have a longer battery life than the Quest 2 and the Quest Pro, but the exact duration is not confirmed yet. Some sources suggest it could be around 4 to 5 hours, which would be a significant improvement over its predecessors. However, this may also depend on the usage and settings of the headset.

Conclusion

The Meta Quest 2, Meta Quest Pro, and Meta Quest 3 are three different VR headsets that cater to different audiences and needs. The Quest 2 is a great all-around headset that offers high-quality VR experiences at an affordable price. The Quest Pro is a premium headset that offers advanced features such as eye tracking, face tracking, and color passthrough for professionals and enthusiasts. The Quest 3 is a next-generation headset that promises to deliver even better performance, display, and battery life than its predecessors.

Each headset has its own strengths and weaknesses, and users should choose the one that best suits their preferences and budget. However, it is important to note that these headsets require a Meta account to use, and may collect user data for advertising and other purposes. Users should be aware of these privacy implications before buying or using any of these headsets.

Leave a Reply